St Helen's Church, Abingdon

St Helen's Church is a medieval church in Abingdon with a wide layout featuring a central nave and multiple aisles throughout its substantial interior. The northeast tower houses ten bells and dominates the building's exterior appearance.

The building began as a minster around 650 at the confluence of the Ock and Thames rivers, serving the surrounding area. The present structure was rebuilt and expanded later in the medieval period.

The Lady Chapel displays rare ceiling paintings with Old Testament figures and an unusual Christ representation on a lily. These artworks give visitors a direct view of late medieval religious painting.

The church is surrounded by almshouses from different centuries that are visible along the paths around the grounds. A visit combines well with a walk through the surrounding streets to explore the buildings.

Three sets of historical almshouses surround the grounds: Long Alley from the 15th century and two others from the 18th century. These building groups together form an ensemble showing the town's social history.

Location: Abingdon on Thames

Inception: 7 century

Architectural style: English Gothic architecture

Website: https://abingdonparish.org.uk/StH

GPS coordinates: 51.66760,-1.28290

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:25